Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pampanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pampanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $663 in Pampanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Baguio versus $1,114 in Pampanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Baguio versus $1,566 in Pampanga.

Living in Baguio is roughly 17% more expensive than Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 42% lower, Pampanga 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ₱218

$3.15 ₱192

13.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.50 ₱820

$17.78 ₱1,080

-24.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.60 ₱158

$3.14 ₱191

-17.20%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱142

$2.71 ₱165

-13.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.65

$0.43 ₱25.91

62.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.35

$0.38 ₱23.29

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱88.6

$1.19 ₱72.5

22.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱121

$2.34 ₱142

-14.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.44 ₱87.6

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.1

$1.14 ₱69.1

9.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱67.6

$0.85 ₱51.5

30.59%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱133

$1.45 ₱88.1

51.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 ₱552

$4.34 ₱264

109.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 ₱225

$2.94 ₱178

25.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.42 ₱512

$7.10 ₱432

18.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.16 ₱132

21.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₱114

$1.09 ₱66.2

71.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₱138

$2.31 ₱141

-2.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱71.5

$0.92 ₱56.1

28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.69 ₱103

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱139

$1.79 ₱109

27.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₱44.01

$0.96 ₱58.3

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱46.91

$0.61 ₱37.00

26.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱203

$2.18 ₱133

53.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ₱557

$6.24 ₱379

46.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱65.4

$0.78 ₱47.68

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱137

$1.39 ₱84.8

62.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.66

$0.29 ₱17.66

-10.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.56 ₱642

$11.52 ₱700

-8.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.9

$0.77 ₱46.50

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.34

$0.29 ₱17.74

-24.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱149

$2.07 ₱126

18.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.3

$1.16 ₱70.4

-4.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.3K ₱2.0M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

81.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.5K ₱1.2M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

14.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 ₱8,854

$129 ₱7,863

12.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.10 ₱2,072

$26.24 ₱1,595

29.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,579

$26.33 ₱1,600

-1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.76 ₱1,322

$50.6 ₱3,075

-57.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.16 ₱253

$4.36 ₱265

-4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 ₱360

$4.34 ₱264

36.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$153 ₱9,316

$126 ₱7,685

21.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,642 ₱282.1K

$1,792 ₱108.9K

159.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.11 ₱2,985

$29.11 ₱1,769

68.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 ₱1,656

$26.13 ₱1,588

4.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,636

$60.4 ₱3,671

26.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.91 ₱2,790

$42.61 ₱2,590

7.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₱21.0K

$153 ₱9,268

126.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,648

$95.8 ₱5,823

48.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₱33.1K

$595 ₱36.2K

-8.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.0K

$414 ₱25.1K

-36.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,423 ₱147.2K

$2,387 ₱145.0K

1.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 ₱57.7K

$1,321 ₱80.2K

-28.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 ₱11.3K

$299 ₱18.2K

-37.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.17

-27.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baguio: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pampanga: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Baguio and $153 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pampanga pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13 in Baguio vs $18 in Pampanga. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $154, with Pampanga cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Baguio vs Pampanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pampanga wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pampanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Pampanga earns 61% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $346 in Baguio versus $153 in Pampanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $663 in Pampanga – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 9% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Pampanga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Pampanga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pampanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.